"Ow! Ruttin' hell!" Kaylee swore as her hand slipped and her index finger caught on the edge of the compression coil. She slipped her finger into her mouth, sucking off the drop of blood that appeared.

"Kaylee?" Simon's voice sent a pleasant shiver down her spine. "You all right?" He peered in at her from the doorway.

"Yeah, just a little scratch." She held out her hand for him to see. "Guess I was just a bit distracted, is all."

"Yeah, I've been a little out of it today, too." Simon grinned at her as he stepped into the engine room and took her hand, inspecting the cut on her finger.

"It's fine, Simon, really." Kaylee giggled. "Just wanted an excuse to hold my hand, didn't ya?"

Simon tugged on her hand, pulling her into his arms. "Am I that obvious?"

"Hear me complaining?" Kaylee shot back, leaning up to kiss him. It lasted longer than she had intended, and memories of the last time they had been in this room together, less than twenty-four hours earlier, flooded over her, making her moan and press harder against him. Then she remembered the shock that had cut through the afterglow and brought both of them back to reality. She broke the kiss reluctantly. "Did you talk to River?"

"I did." Simon replied, loosening his hold on her a little without letting go. "And I made sure she understands that when we're in here together, that's 'private time.' Or when we're in my bunk. Or yours. Or the infirmary. Or...anywhere with no one else around."

Kaylee laughed out loud. "Simon Tam! You have got a filthy mind. You've really thought about us doin' the dirty in all those places?"

Simon blushed, but his smile didn't fade. "You're one to talk. You told me to tell River to stay out of here."

"I still can't believe she was watching us." Kaylee buried her face against his chest, sure she was blushing as much as he was.

"Don't remind me." Simon groaned. "I can't believe she ran off and told the Captain. Although I'm almost glad she did, in a way."

"Why?" Kaylee asked.

"Because it's such a ty